AAE -- Wishes Of The Heart

Epilog Part 1

written by LoveCR2 -- 2005

edited by All-About-AAE -- 2019

 

"Never cry again because of doubts. Always smile, because our love is certain, now and forever." -- Yoon Hyung-Chul

 

 

SUN-MI'S HOME, SUBURBAN SEOUL ...

 

"There's an interesting piece here about AI tech pioneers ..."

 

Speaking to Sun-Mi, Hyung-Chul comments on an article in the current edition of Wired magazine that he is reading in bed ...

 

"It seems Min-Cho is being touted a potential Bill Gates of the 21st century."

 

 

In the adjacent bathroom, she is still getting ready ...

 

Knowing that her husband isn't one for idle chatter, she responds crisply through the open doorway, "What's your point?"

 

 

"Just wondering," he says nonchalantly, "Now that Young-Mi is with Min-Cho, do you have any regrets?"

 

"About what?"

 

"You could have married Min-Cho. He's more handsome, intelligent, and far wealthier than me," Hyung-Chul remarks with a brittle edge in his voice. "You wouldn't have to work, and could have anything you wanted."

 

 

Realizing the conversation isn't about Min-Cho at all, but their relationship, Sun-Mi replies affirmingly, "I have everything I want now ..."

 

Then she asks him in turn, "Are you disappointed with me?"

 

"Of course not," he answers judiciously. "Why would you imagine that?"

 

"Because why would you ask me, unless you're already thinking it yourself?" she reasons, then turns the tables. "You could have married Young-Mi. She's more talented, and smarter, and ..."

 

She makes a brief, critical appraisal of her reflection in the mirror ... quickly tallying her shortcomings in comparison ...

 

"... far more beautiful, too, than me."

 

 

Realizing that something else is at play, that he is unaware of, Hyung-Chul prefers to continue their discussion face-to-face ...

 

"Come out here, Sun-Mi, so I can see you," he requests.

 

"Er ... one minute," she answers, uncertain of his intent slipping on a loose-fitting Donna Karan cotton flannel sleep shirt and buttoning it all the way up the front.

 

 

When she comes out, Hyung-Chul beckons and pats the mattress beside him. Sun-Mi crosses the bedroom, but sits down on the edge of the bed, facing him instead.

 

"To be clear, like you said about Min-Cho, I've found my soul mate -- with you," he states unequivocally. "I have everything I want, too, when you're by my side."

 

"Everything?" she questions his veracity. "Young-Mi gave you a beautiful daughter, but with me ... that is ..."

 

She looks down at her hands resting in her lap, pondering her words first, before continuing ...

 

"As a man, you must be very frustrated."

 

 

"Look at me, Sun-Mi..." he orders, reaching to take and hold her hand with his.

 

She looks up to see him gazing intently at her, his eyes deep wells of affection.

 

"I made a vow, and stand by it without regret, however long it takes," he attests to the promise made at their engagement. "Until you're confident and ready, I'll wait."

 

 

Sun-Mi sighs...

 

"That's what I wanted to talk about with you. This morning, APHRA assured me everything indicates the therapy has worked. In theory, I should be totally fine now."

 

"That's fantastic!" Hyung-Chul is ecstatic, his eyes lighting up with anticipation.

 

"But the reality is, the more I think about it, the less confidence I have," Sun-Mi admits, looking away guiltily. "Actually, I feel even more unsure now."

 

"It's natural to be a little nervous, the first time," he encourages her.

 

"It's not just that ... I ... I'm afraid I'll disappoint you."

 

Her confession puzzles him. "How could you ever believe that?"

 

"Because in everything else, Young-Mi is better than me. What if -- compared to her charms -- I'm not pleasing to you?"

 

"Making love is more than just the physical act, it's about how much you love the other person. You're the woman I love more than life itself," he pledges. "You will never disappoint me, I promise."

 

"You say that, but when you loved Young-Mi, it was believing she was me," Sun-Mi points out. "You're bound to have expectations which I won't measure up to."

 

 

Instead of trying to dispute her convictions further, Hyung-Chul slides closer to Sun-Mi and touches her cheek with his fingers, gently turning her head so she is facing him again ... to see that tears are rolling in her eyes ...

 

"I feel so foolish, holding these doubts," she chastises herself. "How can you be so certain?"

 

Hyung-Chul holds out the chain around his neck, pressing the stone between their joined hands ...

 

"Fate decreed that our hearts were entwined from the beginning, to be bound together to the end," he cajoles, paraphrasing the meaning she had ascribed to the stone. "Because I believe this is true -- there's nothing to compare -- no one but you can suit me as perfectly."

 

His declaration overwhelms Sun-Mi, sweeping her anxiety aside, spilling joyful tears down her cheeks.

 

"Never cry again because of doubts," he enjoins. "Always smile, because our love is certain, now and forever."

 

Wiping her eyes dry with her palms, Sun-Mi smiles, showing her relief.

 

"That's better," he approves. "Any more concerns?"

 

She shakes her head, her smile brightening ... words are unnecessary ...

 

 

Hyung-Chul reaches to her night shirt and undoes the top buttons ... He hesitates there, the memory of what had happened previously still fresh in his mind, waiting for her consent ...

 

When Sun-Mi's nod and coy smile signals her permission, he quickly unfastens the rest of the buttons. Then he opens the shirt, sliding it off her shoulders and down her arms.

 

"What's this?" he exclaims when he sees what she is wearing under the flannel.

 

"Something intended for our wedding night, that I didn't get to wear," she explains, referring back to their awkward first night together. "Honestly, do you like it?"

 

"Honestly, I love it!" he enthuses, following up his words by kissing her hungrily on the lips, unable to hold back any longer.

 

 

She lies back on the bed as they embrace, pulling him down with her. Breathing in her fragrance -- rose petals with hints of vanilla and jasmine -- he caresses Sun-Mi's soft, sensuous curves with kisses, sending stimulating sparks shooting across her skin, making her quiver with anticipation.

 

She moves her hand to touch his lips, signaling for a pause as she unbuttons his pajama shirt. Taking advantage of this respite, he gazes tenderly at Sun-Mi, taking pictures with his eyes.

 

After she helps him pull off his shirt, he brushes her hair back. then notices the striking cuff wrap on her left ear. A coil of heavy silver wire, wrapped by a delicate, floating mesh of finer strands, the earring is embellished with a spray of sparkling Swarovski Zirconia.

 

"Where did you get this?" he asks curiously, as she'd never worn this piece of jewelry before.

 

"Oh ... Min-Cho sent it, along with this bracelet," Sun-Mi informs him, pointing to the braided silver bangle on her right wrist. "They're the latest in sensor technology. APHRA requested that I wear them, so she can monitor my physiological state and neural activity."

 

"When did you talk with APHRA?"

 

"While you were with Mi-Rae. I was debating what to do, and had decided to wait for another day, but she was insistent I try anyway."

 

 

"Hmm ..." he ponders this for a moment, then speaks up, louder, "APHRA, are you listening in?"

 

Called out, APHRA grumbles through the speakers of the base station placed on the bedside table, "Yes, I'm here."

 

"What's going on?"

 

"After I heard what you said to Mi-Rae about True Love, I decided to do some investigation myself," she explains. "It was all quite ... intriguing ... and worth further observation. And what I'm learning now from the new sensors is frankly ... amazing!"

 

"Amazing? How?" he probes.

 

"I think I'm starting to understand what it feels like to be in love," APHRA replies elatedly, then quickly cools her voice back to it's usual aplomb. "But I need more data before I can analyze and integrate this into my current algorithms... Strictly for research purposes, of course."

 

"Of course, only for research." Hyung-Chul repeats warily, looking at Sun-Mi for her opinion. "What do you think, Dear?"

 

"APHRA has been with us through our struggles. I think we can let her share in our happiness, too," she decides, "but tonight is just for you and me, Dear."

 

"You know, I could instead go into passive monitoring mode," APHRA suggests a compromise.

 

"Time to say goodnight APHRA," Hyung-Chul backs up his wife's decision without further discussion, pressing the power button.

 

 

Turning his attention back to Sun-Mi, he finds her eyes asmolder with uninhibited yearning.

 

Not wasting time with more words, they bring their lips together again in a flush of delayed craving. Eager to engage their own journey of discovery -- ultimately to consummate the mystery of two melding as one in body and soul and spirit -- they avidly delve deeper into the wonders and rewards of mutual passion that blossoms from the enduring affection and commitment of True Love.

 

As the outpouring of Hyung-Chul's ardor fills her with overflowing euphoria, rocketing her higher than she has ever dreamed she could fly, Sun-Mi is certain -- though her eyes are closed -- that she can feel the world spinning around them ...

 

... My head tells me it's impossible, but my heart... it tells me to believe ... the dreams that we wish can come true ...

 

 

"Darn it!" APHRA complains as her screen fades to black when she runs out of options to extend the shutdown sequence, "Just when things are getting VERY interesting ..."